My Blunder Photographing the Solar Eclipse
Just over a month ago, the solar eclipse took place. Living in Austin, we got to experience totality for a few brief minutes. It was incredible to witness, even more remarkable to capture. To do this, it would require a telephoto lens, camera body (duh), a tripod (unless your super power is holding things steady), and some kind of solar filter to capture before and after totality.
Now, leading up to the eclipse I had done some research to find exactly what I would need to capture it. The last time there was an eclipse of this magnitude, I did not have a solar filter - so I did not bother taking a risk and ruin my camera's sensor. I was much more prepared this time around. I bought my filter about a month in advance, which was cutting it close even then, but got it on time. From the rest of the research I had done, other photographers shared that they were already practicing - and have been for months already.
Yes, months.
You also needed to have specific settings with the solar filter on, and then quickly change settings for when totality begins - removing the solar filter as it would be too dark for the camera's sensor to see it. I practiced once, just about a week before hand, to make sure the filter worked well. It's nearly impossible to see through with your own eyes - it's that dark. I managed to capture the sun during the day, and I was impressed. Having that under my belt this time, a steady tripod, and Fujifilm's XF 100 to 400mm lens, I felt like I was ready.
When April 8th rolled around, I packed up my tripod, X-T3, X-H2s, along with the 100 to 400mm and the 16 to 55mm (to maybe capture my surroundings during the eclipse, just in case) lens. Upon arrival, I mounted the 100 to 400mm onto the X-T3 and set it on my tripod. I screwed the solar filter on, and I was set. I decided to use the X-T3, should I make some sort of mistake and possibly ruin the camera's sensor. I love my X-T3, but rather that camera get damaged than the X-H2s.
Not too many people showed up, maybe around five or six other photographers around, and then possibly thirty to forty people to watch. We went out into dripping springs, a little closer to the line of totality.
Once it started, I began taking photos with the X-T3, switching it over to video occasionally to try to get a bit of footage of it as well. The coolest part of the buildup to totality was that the photos almost looked like it could be the moon, which I found interesting. Much brighter, obviously, but still cool nonetheless. As totality drew nearer, I slowed down on taking photos, wanting to see the eclipse myself. However, when we did go into totality, I lost sight of the sun through the X-T3.
Panic set in. I could not locate it. I zoomed out, trying to find it. Maybe I needed to adjust settings on the spot to find it? No. After about twenty seconds of fiddling around with the settings, I switched to the X-H2s, which already had the 16 to 55mm attached to it, and got this super great shot of it far away (shot at 55mm). That's when it hit me - the 16 to 55mm lens didn't have the solar filter on it. so I could see it. The 100 to 400mm still did.
Letting out a huge sigh, half exasperated, to tell you the truth, I unscrewed the solar filter and removed it from the telephoto lens. There it was, the eclipse. After adjusting my settings once more, I was able to snap a few shots of it, as well as the "diamond" the moment totality concluded. A sigh of relief followed.
I was able to capture it.
I made a pretty obvious mistake, but I managed to capture it.
It's funny that even after nearly eight years of practicing photography, I fumbled that one crucial moment. There's always things to learn in photography, this was one of them for me. I panicked, which then reduced my capability to think logically on why I could not see the eclipse through the camera. It happens, but no matter how long I continue photography (or anything in life, generally) there is always so much we can learn to continue to grow.
Below are my four favorite shots from the solar eclipse.
If you were interested in purchasing a printed version of the Eclipse Diamond photo (the one directly above), I do have that available on the print store currently!
Capere Momento.